Section B
The News-Journal
Thursday, December 8, 1983
Editorials * Columns * Features * Classified ads
Clinical work
School Dentist Dr. Mike White ad
ministers a mouth covering and
prepares to work on a tooth that has
been bothering Ralph. While White
prepares to fill the tooth , his other pa
tients n atch and help during the pro
cess. " It helps the patients if they can
be involved , " White said.
'White Knight '
Provides Dental Care
By Sherry Matthews
Just the thought of a trip to the
dentist usually evokes pain for
most. However, for school age
children at South Hoke the fears of
being hurt by the drill have been
allayed by a "knight in white ar
mor."
The new "knight," as some of
the students refer to him, is Public
Health Dentist Mike White, who
has been assigned to work within
the Hoke School system. ?
This is the first time in the
history of the Hoke Schools that a
dentist has been provided, Hoke
Health Director Lloyd Home said.
Home apparently was a key fac
tor in getting a dentist for the
school system.
"We really needed one," Home
said.
"We have had a dental hygenist
that we have shared with Scotland
County," Home added.
The hygenist provided dental
health care education and was
"beneficial" in coordinating a
"mouth rinse" program within the
school system.
White, a University of North
Carolina graduate, has a D.D.S.
degree and has worked with public
dental health for the last seven
years.
"1 really enjoy what 1 do,"
White said.
The new dentist is presently
working from South Hoke school
where he is getting ready to do
"clinical work" on students who
were eligible for the dental pro
gram.
Among White's duties is screen
ing all Hoke students, determing
their dental needs and either refer
ring patients or treating them for
those needs.
In October, White screened over
3,000 students from six schools
and determined that 1,849 children
needed dental care.
"There were a lot of students
who needed dental care and simply
were not getting it for one reason
or another," Home said.
At present, White only treats
those "economically eligible"
students who attend the South
Hoke school, but he screens and
refers other Hoke students.
South Hoke was the second
choice when it came time to decide
where to place the new dentist.
Home said.
According to Home, J.W. Turl
ington, which houses fifth and
sixth graders, was the first choice,
but because of "insufficient
room" South Hoke became the
"next logical" site.
"South Hoke had the space and
Turlington didn't," Home said.
Although Home said the
students with the most dental -
problems were fifth and sixth
graders, he admitted being
satisfied with the South Hoke loca
tion.
"We have younger kids there. If
we work on them now, hopefully
they won't have those problems
when they reach Turlington," he
said.
Although most children are
usually wary of climbing in the
dentist chair, those students
waiting for treatment at South
Hoke are "ready" to enter White's
dental kingdom.
"I just love Dr. White," one
South Hoke student said.
"He really makes it all right,"
she added.
White, who clowns with the kids
and lets them help him in the
clinic, loves working with the "lit
tle kids."
Three students come into his of;
fice together for treatment.
"That is simply good dental
practice when you are working
without an assistant," White said.
"It also helps the other kids,"
he added.
Peer pressure and the "compan
ionship of others that must go
through the same ordeal" helps
put the students at ease while they
wait their turn.
White also helps the students to
relax by putting them to work.
"I let them hold the suction,
help me mix the fillings and clean
the instruments," White said.
"This keeps them occupied, and
it also helps me out a lot," he said.
White, who also held workshops
for the Hoke teachers to help them
help the children, admits that he
will not tell a child that the treat
ment will not hurt.
"That is a big no-no," White
said.
r
"1 tell the teachers not to tell
them that it won't hurt, and I
don't tell them that either because
they might just feel something,"
White said.
"1 just tell them they might feel
some sensation. It usually puts
them at ease," White added.
White's South Hoke students
seem to trust him.
"I think they love him to
death," Home said.
"1 know he loves them," the
health director added.
White will agree.
"They are so much fun to work
with. I have a good time with those
kids," he said.
As White talks, three patients
walk in, ready for whatever their
"good dentist" has in store.
. "I'm not sure it is me they are
eager to see or the rewards I give
them once we have finished,"
White said.
"When they leave here 1 give
them a good behavior award,"
White said.
Among those awards are rings
and stickers that range from
"World's Greatest Patient" to
"My Dentist Loves Me" or " I
Love My Dentist."
"That is my favorite one to give
out," White said.
Although White loves to joke
with his patients and "just have a
good time," he takes his work very
seriously.
"1 want to help these kids build
up their teeth and improve their
dental care," he said.
"Whatever 1 can do to help 1
will do," he added.
Although White was orginally
assigned to Hoke County for one
year, Home said that word from
state officials promises a brighter
future for Hoke's new dentist.
"We may be able to keep him
around until 1985 the way it looks
now," Home said.
"If we are able to keep him with
us, we will be able to use a little
more flexibility over the next cou
ple of years," Home said.
"What he is doing is great," |
Home said.
"We have needed someone like
that in the schools for a long
time," he added.
Checking over his work
After White completes his fillings, he checks Ralph
over one last time to see If everything looks OK. White
also lets his other patients check out the work, "to
build their confidence In what Is really going to hap
pen. "
Preparing to swish
W hite joins his patients as they prepare to perform merit that helps strengthen the teeth, H hire said. These
their daily "swish. " "Swishing" is a fluoride treat- kids enjoy swish time. W hite added.
Ji y
V
.iim m
A little instruction
White , who enjoys teaching and just "goofing off "
with the kids, shows them how to properly brush their
teeth. White instructs his patients in dental care and
also teaches them how to work in a dental office.
" They are a lot of fun, " White said.